Jean-Christophe Cambadélis, the head of France’s ruling Socialists and a close ally of President François Hollande, issued an open letter to the German people today (16 July) urging them to re-think their place in Europe.

“Europe, my dear friend, does not understand your country’s stubbornness in blindly pursuing the path of austerity,” he wrote. “Has your country forgotten the support France gave right after all the atrocious crimes committed in your name?”

The letter goes on to list French support for Germany’s recovery from the ashes of World War Two, including the U.-backed Marshall Plan of 1947, a 1953 accord to cut Germany’s foreign-held debt, and the diplomatic green light for German reunification after the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall.

“Berlin should recall this history lesson just as it is giving Athens a lesson in housekeeping,” wrote Cambadélis, who has gradually shifted towards the reformist wing of the Socialist Party after starting out in far-left student politics. He is of Greek origin.

“France and Europe let Germany become the power it is today … My dear friend – Germany must pull itself together, and quickly!”

The letter comes a day after France’s parliament gave its backing to a last-minute agreement between Athens and its creditors, but only after a debate in which deep misgivings were expressed about Europe’s handling of the crisis.

Many on the French left feel that Hollande has missed a chance to oppose the austerity policies backed by Germany and other, mainly northern, EU members. Conversely, opposition conservatives accuse him of damaging Franco-German relations.

Hollande has played down differences with Germany and insisted his relationship with Chancellor Angela Merkel was one of the factors that helped secure a deal averting Greece being ejected from the eurozone.

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May be it would be wise to let not only the German, bunt also the French and the citizens all over Europe give their opinion on what kind of Europe and what kind of democracy they want! They can do so on http://www.our-new-europe.eu!